NEWS: Solon Seeks Ban On Religious rites, Symbols In Gov’t Offices

**Monseratto** · June 18th, 2012 11:26 AM

I wonder why God-fearing goverment employess don't see nothing wrong for asking "for the boys" "pang yosi" "pang Meryenda"... The usual excuse is "everyone is doing it, why shouldn't I?" So where's the so-called higher moral ground?

**robot.sonic** · June 18th, 2012 11:53 AM

Sa ibang government offices, may catholic mass kada wednesday during office hours. bayad yung oras ng mga empleyado galing sa taxes ng mga catholics, muslims, atheists.

**chua_riwap** · June 18th, 2012 12:03 PM

eh yung sa SC lang eh, rosary, dasal, suot ng pula, rosary, dasal, rally, novena....prayer vigil.
ilang buwan yun?

tapos sasabihin nila di raw apektado yung trabaho nila? eh halos lahat ng empleyado nakikigago kay corona nung mga araw na yun.

**jansky** · June 18th, 2012 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by chua_riwap

eh yung sa SC lang eh, rosary, dasal, suot ng pula, rosary, dasal, rally, novena....prayer vigil.
ilang buwan yun?

tapos sasabihin nila di raw apektado yung trabaho nila? eh halos lahat ng empleyado nakikigago kay corona nung mga araw na yun.

di ka na nasanay.. GOBYERNO yan..
where work is not related

**ghosthunter** · June 21st, 2012 03:01 PM

Bishops score ‘ban God bill’
June 21, 2012 9:10am

Catholic bishops this week scored a proposed measure in Congress that seeks to ban prayer services and religious symbols in government offices.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said the bishops insist such services do not violate any law and there is no reason for banning them.

“Majority of our employers and employees are Catholics. The small crucifix and a short prayer will remind them to be good, honest and just employers and employees,” said Jaro Archbishop and former CBCP president Angel Lagdameo.

Lagdameo added the crucifix and prayer have "positive and advantageous results," adding he hopes lawmakers "will be more discreet.”

He was referring to House Bill (HB 6330) or the Religious Freedom in Government Offices Act, which seeks to ban religious ceremonies including Masses, prayers, Christmas parties and blessings in government premises.

The measure, filed by Kabataan party list Rep. Raymond Palatino, also pushes for the removal of religious symbols like the crucifix, Bible, and Koran in public offices.

Palatino had been quoted as saying the state "cannot be seen to favor one religion over the other, in allowing the prominent conduct and display of religious ceremonies and symbols, respectively, in public offices and property.”

But Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said the people have always the right to express their faith “because of its social dimension.”

“Since majority of our people are Catholics, then they should be respected in expressing their belief,” Ongtioco said.

Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez Jr. added there is freedom in practicing religion.

"That bill is a limitation of the exercise of religious practices,” said Iñiguez, who heads the CBCP's public affairs unit.

Retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz added he was "quite amazed that somebody could think of this bill."

“It’s a good advertisement if you really want to run for higher office. People will talk about you and, before you know it, you will become better known. In that regard, I admire him. I think it is a very good strategy,” Cruz added. — LBG, GMA News

source: Bishops score ‘ban God bill’ | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere

**ghosthunter** · June 22nd, 2012 07:48 PM

Looks like he was bullied over by peer pressure...

Solon withdraws 'Ban God' bill, says sorry
By David Dizon, ABS-CBNnews.com
Posted at 06/22/2012 5:59 PM | Updated as of 06/22/2012 5:59 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Kabataan party-list led by Rep. Raymond Palatino withdrew Friday a controversial bill that seeks to ban prayer services and religious symbols in government offices.

In a statement, Palatino said he is withdrawing House Bill 6330 “in response to the appeal and clamor of some of our members, constituents and supporters, various groups, institutions and the general public to reconsider the filing of such measure.”

Palatino said the bill has no intention to “ban God”, suppress any religion or belief and prevent government employees from practicing their faith.

"The purpose of the bill is to ensure that government offices do not favor one religion over the other, or discriminate one against the other," he said.

“Kabataan Partylist sincerely apologizes for any offense the bill caused. We are sad that we hurt the religious sentiments of many, when our desire was to uphold and promote religious sensitivity and harmony,” he added.

The controversial measure, titled An Act Empowering Heads of Offices and Departments to Strictly Implement the Constitutional Provisions on Religious Freedom in Government Offices, seeks to ban religious activities including Masses, prayers, Christmas parties and blessings in government premises.

The measure also pushes for the removal of religious symbols like the crucifix, Bible, and Koran in public offices.

Palatino, who is Catholic, earlier said he has received many complaints from government employees who are “forced” to attend Mass or other religious activities by their superiors even during office hours.

He criticized some government offices who do not transact business during lunch break because they hear Mass.

“There are people who go to government offices during lunch break and they can’t transact because there’s a Mass. Ano yung ma-i-interpret nila? Ito ba ay official na ine-endorse ng government agency?” he told ABS-CBN’s “Umagang Kay Ganda.”

However, Fr. Melvin Castro of the CBCP Episcopal Commission of Family and Life said the bill actually suppresses freedom of religious expression instead of guaranteeing religious freedom.

“Hindi freedom of religious expression ang mangyayari diyan sa panukalang batas bagkus ay pagkitil pa nga sa freedom of expression of religion," he said.

In the statement, Palatino said he hopes the conversations on the need to respect different beliefs in society will continue.

“We are encouraged by the fact that despite the misunderstandings, the bill initiated relevant discussions on freedom of religion as one of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.

He added that the party-list would rather continue prioritizing other pending bills and advocacies that it had been promoting for the past three years including passage of the Tuition Regulation Bill, review of the K+12 program, Students' Rights Act, Anti-No Permit, No Exam Act, BPO Workers' Welfare Act and Public Wi-Fi Bill.

source: Solon withdraws 'Ban God' bill, says sorry | ABS-CBN News

**ghosthunter** · June 22nd, 2012 07:53 PM

quoting "Jaime Garchitorena" from his FB page:

BAN GOD? WHY NOT? : The CBCP once again has shown a strength in position but a definite weakness of mind.

By opposing a bill that seeks to equalize the presence of religous icons in non-sectarian govt contexts, the CBCP not only exposes its great insecurity in its postion as "top religion" in the Philippines but also betrays its reluctance to accept that there are other legitimate religions in the Philippines other than Catholicism. The Bill itself seeks to ban all religous icons in all govt offices. I agree with this.

The CBCP spokesperson already acknowledges that the Phillippines is not a catholic country but is a country with a lot of catholics then why cant it accept that a non-catholic, transacting in a governemnt office, may find the presence of a cross on the wall a reflection of a bias against his beliefs. He is after all a citizen. If so why isnt his religion represented on that wall as well.

If we are to reduce it to Pesos and Centavos consider that if the cost of these religous items ( and that various CATHOLIC religous activities held in govt offices) is shouldered by the governemnt then ALL sects must be allowed representation. If the govt spends to buy one cross to place on a wall, it must spend the same to place the icons of all religions on the same wall. If the govt hold mass then itsmust accomodate toher beliefs as well.

The CBCP also shows its prejudice when is ASSUMES that the referrence to "god" in the constiution exclusively referes to a Catholic god. Excuse me Mister Bishop!

Its bad enough that the Catholic Church plays dumb to the growing discontent within its followers ( as expressed by the IMPROVE YOUR SERMONS letter last month) but pretends that its presence in politics is merely incidental.

Make no mistake, by virtue of my wifes beliefs Im a practicing catholic, but I disrespect intellectual dishonesty. And the CBCP has the type of intellectual dishonesty that constantly pushes me away from the Catholic Church as an institution and sometimes Catholicism as a belief system.

The last word? GET ALL RELIGIONS OUT OF GOVT!!!!

**CoDer** · June 23rd, 2012 09:45 AM

Sabi ko na ngaba ba. Ni di man lang naka porma Palatino.

Mas importante na tangalin nila mga mukha nila sa lahat ng government projects, business licenses, government cards, etc.